Coco Jones shares her biggest dating advice after marrying NBA star Donovan Mitchell

The Grammy-winning singer says being yourself from the beginning is key to finding a lasting relationship.

Coco Jones says people looking for love should show who they really are from the start. The 28-year-old singer, who previously called marriage her “biggest contract”, wed Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell in a star-studded ceremony in August. Now, she is sharing the dating lessons behind her approach to relationships.

In a People interview at the EBONY Power 100 Awards on Nov. 9, Jones said trying to appear more appealing to a potential partner rarely lasts. She joked that “the mask comes off anyway after three to six business months,” making the case for honesty early in a relationship.

Coco Jones also urged singles to listen to their instincts. When a relationship feels wrong, she said, people should not force it out of fear that they will struggle to find someone else. Her message was to believe other possibilities exist and be willing to move forward.

The Grammy-winning performer, who married Mitchell on Aug. 1, said she took time to build trust before making their romance public. She wanted to understand the person she was dating and protect a relationship that mattered deeply to her.

She also questioned the pressure on celebrities to reveal private moments simply because they have an audience. Jones said she waited until sharing her relationship felt genuine, rather than making an announcement for attention or social media engagement.

The couple announced their engagement in July 2025 after dating largely away from public view. Their intimate wedding brought together family and friends, including Ciara and Russell Wilson.

Jones has brought that new chapter into her music. Her Aug. 21 single “Love Me Through” features footage from the wedding in its visualizer, giving fans a look at moments from the ceremony.

Still, the actress and singer wants to maintain a sense of herself beyond her marriage. She described her current chapter as “Pouring Into My Identity,” explaining that she is reconnecting with the interests and ambitions that shaped her before all the attention around her love life.